Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci. & Tech.

2014

Rachakulla Sai Krishna and P V Anil Kumar, 2014

ISSN 2319-5991 www.ijerst.com
Vol. 3, No. 4, November 2014
2014 IJERST. All Rights Reserved

Research Paper

DESIGN AND BUCKLING STRENGTH

EVALUATION OF A LIFTING BEAM
FOR 350 TONNES THROUGH FEA
Rachakulla Sai Krishna1* and P V Anil Kumar2

*Corresponding Author: Rachakulla Saikrishna  saikrishna.rachakulla@gmail.com

The objective of project is to perform the design calculations for the lifting beam for a capacity of
350 Tonnes as per the specifications. Create 3D model as per the design calculations in
UNIGRAPHICS. Perform Structural analysis on the 3D model with Symmetric and Asymmetric
Loading of 350 Tonnes using Ansys. The project also deals with evaluating the structural stability
for buckling loads. In this project design recommendations for buckling of flat steel plate structures
intended for lifting applications are taken from DNV Offshore standards, DNVOS-C101 which is
intended to be used for design of structures. The structural stability for buckling is checked for
the structure according to this standard.
Keywords: Lifting Beam, Strength evaluation, 3D model

INTRODUCTION

prevent reversal of stress in certain portions of

A lifting beam is a solid or fabricated metal beam,

suspended from a hoist/crane or from forks of a
forklift, designed to provide multiple lifting points.
The lifting beam enables the user to attach the
load at more than one point therein securing and
controlling the loads movement.

the lifted object. So the design of lifting beam plays

Lifting beams are designed to be loaded in

bending. A simple lifting beam will have an eye or
link on the top side to connect to the lifting machine
hook and two or more lifting points on the
underside to connect to the load. They are ideal
for lifting loads which are too weak or flexible to
be lifted without support. This is important to
minimize unwanted erection stresses or to

should be taken into account when specifying or

1
2

a crucial role in the wellness of the lifted object.

Another major consideration is load distribution.
Whenever a load is supported at several points
there is likely to be a degree of inequality in the
share of load imposed on each. The likely variation
selecting the equipment. If the load is rigid, then
some flexibility of the lifting beam may be desirable
unless fine adjustment of the connections.

PROBLEM DEFINITION
The objective of project is to perform the design
calculations for the lifting beam for a capacity of

M. Tech Student, Krishnachaitanya Institute of Technology & Sciences, Markapur 523316, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India.
Associate Professor, Krishnachaitanya Institute of Technology & Sciences, Markapur 523316, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh,
India.

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Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci. & Tech. 2014

Rachakulla Sai Krishna and P V Anil Kumar, 2014

DESIGN OF THE BEAM

350 Tonnes as per the specifications. Create 3D

model as per the design calculations in NX-CAD.
Perform Structural analysis on the 3D model with
Symmetric and Asymmetric Loading of 350
Tonnes using Ansys. The project also deals with
evaluating the structural stability for buckling loads
as per DNV Offshore standards.

Distance between the Supports L1= 11000 mm

Distance between the Load points L2 = 6096
mm
Load at Each Load Point
W3 =

METHODOLOGY
Perform design calculations for 350 Tonnes
of lifting load.

= 175000kgs

Load at Each Support

W3 = 175000kgs

Create 3D model using NX-CAD software as

per the design calculations.

Maximum Bending Moment at the Center

Convert 3D model into parasolid format and

import into Ansys to perform Structural analysis
on the lifting beam with Symmetric Loading of
350 Tonnes. Plot deflections and stresses.

of the Beam =

= 4291000 N-mm
Bending Stress on the Beam = 71.9 N/mm2

Perform Structural analysis on the lifting beam

with Asymmetric loading of 350 Tonnes using
Ansys. Plot deflections and stresses.

ASYMMETRICAL LOADING
Load at Each Load Point =

From the results obtained from analysis,

evaluate the structural stability for buckling
loads as per DNV Offshore standards.

W3 =

= 210000 Kgs

DESIGN OF A LIFTING BEAM

Load at Each Support = W3 = 140000 Kgs

Design Calculations for 350 Tons Loading

Maximum Bending Moment at the Center of

Loading Conditions:
the Beam =

Total Load (W) = 350 Tons

No. of Load Bearing Pins per support (N)

= 0.476E + 08N-mm

=2

Bending
Stress
=0.7978309 N/mm2

No of Load Bearing Pins per Support Bottom

(N1) =2

on

the

Beam

BEAM DEFLECTION

Distance between top Supports (L1)

= 11000mm

Total Load on the Beam (W1) = 1000W = 350000

Kgs

Distance between bottom Supports (L2)

= 6096mm

Support to Load Point (L2)

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Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci. & Tech. 2014

Rachakulla Sai Krishna and P V Anil Kumar, 2014

is perhaps the most popular numerical technique

for solving engineering problems. The method is
general enough to handle any complex shape of
geometry (problem domain), any material
properties, any boundary conditions and any
loading conditions. The generality of the FEM fits
the analysis requirements of todays complex
engineering systems and designs where closed
form solutions are governing equilibrium equations
are not available. In addition it is an efficient design
tool by which designers can perform parametric
design studying various cases (different shapes,
material loads etc.) analyzing them and choosing
the optimum design.

L1 L 2
=
= 2452 mm
2
load point1 = wa1 =

= 210000 Kgs

load point2 = wa2 =

= 140000 Kgs

Left Support Reaction = 194396.4 Kgs

Right Support Reaction = 155603.6 Kgs

3D MODELING OF LIFTING
BEAM
A lifting beam is a solid or fabricated metal beam,
suspended from a hoist/crane or from forks of a
forklift, designed to provide multiple lifting points.
The 3D model of the Lifting beam assembly is
created using UNIGRAPHICS NX software from
the design calculations.

Material Properties of the Lifting Beam

The material used for the construction of Lifting
Beam is IS:2062 grade steel.The mechanical
properties are mentioned below

Figure 1: D Model of the Lifting

Beam from Rear View

Youngs Modulus (Ex) =2e5N/mm2

Poissons Ratio = 0.3
Density = 7850Tons/mm3
Yield Strength 240 N/mm2
Weld Strength 0.7 x 240 = 168 N/mm2
Weld Shear Strength 0.5 x 168 = 84 N/mm2

Element Type Used

10 Node Solid 92
Number of Nodes: 10
Number of DOF: 3 (Ux, Uy, Uz)

Boundary Conditions for Symmetric

Loading

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS

OF LIFTING BEAM

The boundary conditions applied on the Lifting

Beam are as follows and are shown in the below
figures.

Finite Element Modeling (FEM) and Finite Element

Analysis (FEA) are two most popular mechanical
engineering applications offered by existing CAE
systems. This is attributed to the fact that the FEM

Total load of 350 Tonnes applied symmetrically.

Load is applied as distributed load on a span
of 180 mm on the 4 Top Pins.

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Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci. & Tech. 2014

Rachakulla Sai Krishna and P V Anil Kumar, 2014

From the static analysis maximum shear

stress of 13 Mpa is observed on the top support
plate of the lifting beam as shown in the below
figure.

Bottom Pins constrained in all DOF.

RESULTS FOR SYMMETRIC

LOADING DISPLACEMENT
From the static analysis a total displacement of
7.2 mm and deflection in Z- direction of 6.8 mm
is observed on the ends of the lifting beam.

Figure 4: Shear Stress Plot of Top Support

Plate for Symmetric Loading

Figure 2: Total Deflection

for Symmetric Loading

The summary of the results obtained from the

static analysis of lifting beam for symmetric
loading was tabulated in Table 1.
Table 1: Results of Symmetric Loading

Stresses: From the static analysis VonMises

stresses and bending stresses are plotted.
Maximum VonMises of 54 Mpa is observed on the
top support of the lifting beam as shown in the
below figure.
Figure 3: VonMises Stress of Lifting
Beam for Symmetric loading

S.No.

Symmetric Loading

Total deflection (mm)

7.2

Deflection in Z-dir (mm)

6.8

Max Von Mises stress (Mpa)

23

1st principle stress (Mpa)

56

2nd principle stress (Mpa)

35

shear stress (Mpa)

13

Static analysis is carried on the lifting beam with

asymmetric loading to calculate the deflections
and stresses. The boundary conditions and
loading details are described below.

Boundary Conditions for Asymmetric

Loading
The boundary conditions applied on the Lifting
Beam are as follows:
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Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci. & Tech. 2014

Rachakulla Sai Krishna and P V Anil Kumar, 2014

1. Total load of 350 Tonnes applied Asymmetrically.

Figure 7: Linearized Stress Plot of top

Supports for Asymmetric Loading

2. Load is applied as distributed on a span of 180

degrees on the 4 Top Pins.
3. Left side pins are loaded with 60% of the total
load and right side pins with 40% of total load
to simulate the asymmetry.
4. Bottom Pins constrained in all Dof.

RESULT FOR ASYMMETRIC

LOADING-DISPLACEMENT
From the static analysis a total displacement of
8.3 mm and deflection in Z- direction of 7.8 mm
is observed on the one end of the lifting beam as
shown in the below figure.

Figure 8: Shear Stress Plot of Top

Support Plate for Asymmetric Loading

Figure 5: Total Deflection of Lifting

Beam for Asymmetric Loading

From the static analysis maximum shear stress

of 13 Mpa is observed on the top support plate of
the lifting beam as shown in the below figure.
The summary of the results obtained from the
static analysis of lifting beam for asymmetric
loading was tabulated in Table 2.

VonMises Stress
Figure 6: VonMises Stress of Lifting
Beam for Asymmetric Loading

Table 2: Results of Asymmetric Loading

S.No.

Asymmetric Loading

Total deflection (mm)

8.3

Deflection in Z-dir (mm)

7.8

Max.VonMises stress (Mpa)

24

1st principle stress (Mpa)

90

2nd principle stress (Mpa)

39

shear stress (Mpa)

15

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Int. J. Engg. Res. & Sci. & Tech. 2014

Rachakulla Sai Krishna and P V Anil Kumar, 2014

standards, DNVOS-C101 which is intended to be

used for design of structures. From the analysis
results it was found that the maximum stress was
occuring on the top support plates for both
Symmetric
and
Asymmetric
loading
conditions.The results obtained from the analysis
were further used to check the structural stability
for buckling for both Symmetric and Asymmetric
loading. From the calculations it was found that
the top support plates for both Symmetric and
Asymmetric loading conditions are safe from
buckling.Therefore it can be concluded that the
lifting beam design is safe from buckling for
Symmetric and Asymmetric loading.

The values obtained are further used to check

for the buckling safety as per DNVOS-C101
standards.
By substituing the inputs in the above equations

w = 0.02 (slenderness)
Kl =6.24 (buckling factor)

Rd = 195.37 Mpa
A plate subjected to biaxially loading with shear
should fulfil the following requirement

REFERENCES
1.
By substituting the values we get left hand side
value as 0.16.

AISC (1983), Torsional Analysis of Steel

Members, Chicago, IL.

2.

Hence it can be said that the top support plate

of lifting beam, which is having maximum stress
for Asymmetric loading is safe for buckling.

AISC (1989), Manual of Steel Construction

9th Edition, AISC, Chicago, IL

3.

ANSI/ASME Standard B30.20The

American Society of Mechanical Engineers,

CONCLUSION

345 E, 47th Street, New York, NY 10017-

Until recently the primary analysis method had

been hand calculations and empirical curves.
New computer advances have made finite
element analysis (FEA) a practical tool in the
study of Lifting Beams, especially in determining
stresses.In this paper a 3D model of the lifting
beam was created as per the design calculations
in UNIGRAPHICS. Structural analysis on the 3D
model was done with Symmetric and Asymmetric
Loading of 350 Tonnes using Ansys. In this project
the structural stability for buckling loads was
evaluated.Design recommendations for buckling
of flat steel plate structures intended for lifting
applications are taken from DNV Offshore

1985.
4.

ANSI/ASME Standard N45.6The American

Society of Mechanical Engineers, 345 E.
47th Street, New York, NY 10017-1985.

5.

Bruce G Johnston (1938), Pin-Connected

Plate Links, ASCE Transactions.

6.

Omer Blodgett (1966), Design of Welded

Structures, The James F.Lincoln Arc
Welding Foundation, Cleveland, OH

7.

Tolbert R N and Hackett R M (1974),

Experimental Investigation of Lug Stresses
and Failures, AISC Engineering Journal.

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